Joff and MrsJoff's Chaste White BorgWarner FD build

[TitaniumTT]

Now that the weather is nicer and the garage is not +110 degF (I live in Phoenix) its a perfect time to start working on the FD putting in all the parts purchased over the last year.

A bit about the car as it is now:

* 1994 Chaste White FD RX7, 1 of 26 made in the "Base" package with no options/weight adders.
* PFS ported engine, PFS intake, exhaust, SMIC, and CAI w/ stock twins.
* aftermarket 17" wheels
* everything else stock except for computer which is PFC...

Our plans:

* single turbo conversion,
----- Borg Warner S366 turbo
----- AZRR manifold
----- CJM fuel system (4x 780cc, 2x 480cc, Bosch 044 pump, turbosmart FPR)
----- Xcessive/GZ LIM
----- devilsown water injection
----- black themed engine bay w/red SMIC & red throttle body.
* interior tweaks
----- different steering wheel (a Miata one probably -- undecided)
----- red Bride seats
----- repainted plastics in Spirit-R grey
----- some upholstery work on the center console, passenger door handle, gauge hood
----- red trim mats, shift boots, and shifter similar to Spirit-R
* exterior tweaks
----- Shine OEM fit FRP FEED hood painted Chaste White
----- KS-Auto Burnout front bumper
----- Carbon Fiber side-skirts, CF fender vents, and CF rear RE-Amemiya "street" diffuser
----- 99-spec spoiler with Autoexe Carbon fiber center section
----- custom red LED tail lights and every other exterior light tinted black.
* suspension tweaks
----- Tokico Illumina shocks/Racing beat springs
----- Superpro bushings
----- Racing beat F/R sway bars w/adjustable end-links
----- Enkei black RPF1 18x9.5 +45 offset w/285s front and back
----- drilled+slotted rotors


Like a lot of FD owners, I do not work fast. Both my wife and I have other daily drivers
(supercharged RX8, VW New Beetle, and lifted Jeep Wranger) so getting the 7 back on the
road is not super urgent. My wife and I will update this thread with pictures along
the way and I hope to be able to have everything we wanted done before Winter's over. I
spent 9 hours organizing tools/prepping the garage so I'm ready to get started!

Here's some pics:

The car as it is right now:


All interior pieces have been removed and are at Unique Auto upholstery/interiors in Scottsdale, AZ for some paint and upholstery work. We actually bought the carbon fiber overlays from Corksport and put a few on but were unhappy with the appearance so took them off. Taking them off put blemishes in the finish though, so we decided to just repaint everything.


Removed rear lights for round 96 spec conversion and to replace with custom LEDs. Opening up those with the heat gun was quite the trick (especially the long center light)!


Removing rear suspension for pillow-ball + bushing + shock/spring replacement


New shock/spring combo -- even matches the exterior white/black/red accent color scheme! Ended up having to get new bump stops too since the OEM rubber was falling apart.


Some of the black go fast goodies: BW S366, HKS SSQV limited edition matte black BOV, Turbosmart FPR, CJM fuel rail, and turbosmart manual boost controller. I want to keep boost control as simple as possible and want to avoid extra electronics, wires, and computers because I don't trust them. BTW, I'm a computer engineer.


Our Bride seats + one of red floor mats. Wasn't sure about the shiny silver FRP backside of these seats, but its actually pretty neat.


We're putting a 99'spec spoiler with Autoexe carbon center insert on and have some carbon fiber fender vents. We liked these
specific fender vents because they were exactly the same shape as the stock ones. Not a big fan of the ones that are bigger and bolder looking. Megan Racing manifold is in the background-- boy was that purchase a mistake and I have a horror story about dealing with the company I'll tell later.


Decided to sand/polish off the lettering on the stock lens in preparation for tinting. This bumped lettering always ended up catching wax from waxing and looking bad. The one on the right is sanded, the one on the left is original.

[joff]

Now that the weather is nicer and the garage is not +110 degF (I live in Phoenix) its a perfect time to start working on the FD putting in all the parts purchased over the last year.

A bit about the car as it is now:

* 1994 Chaste White FD RX7, 1 of 26 made in the "Base" package with no options/weight adders.
* PFS ported engine, PFS intake, exhaust, SMIC, and CAI w/ stock twins.
* aftermarket 17" wheels
* everything else stock except for computer which is PFC...

Our plans:

* single turbo conversion,
----- Borg Warner S366 turbo
----- AZRR manifold
----- CJM fuel system (4x 780cc, 2x 480cc, Bosch 044 pump, turbosmart FPR)
----- Xcessive/GZ LIM
----- devilsown water injection
----- black themed engine bay w/red SMIC & red throttle body.
* interior tweaks
----- different steering wheel (a Miata one probably -- undecided)
----- red Bride seats
----- repainted plastics in Spirit-R grey
----- some upholstery work on the center console, passenger door handle, gauge hood
----- red trim mats, shift boots, and shifter similar to Spirit-R
* exterior tweaks
----- Shine OEM fit FRP FEED hood painted Chaste White
----- KS-Auto Burnout front bumper
----- Carbon Fiber side-skirts, CF fender vents, and CF rear RE-Amemiya "street" diffuser
----- 99-spec spoiler with Autoexe Carbon fiber center section
----- custom red LED tail lights and every other exterior light tinted black.
* suspension tweaks
----- Tokico Illumina shocks/Racing beat springs
----- Superpro bushings
----- Racing beat F/R sway bars w/adjustable end-links
----- Enkei black RPF1 18x9.5 +45 offset w/285s front and back
----- drilled+slotted rotors


Like a lot of FD owners, I do not work fast. Both my wife and I have other daily drivers
(supercharged RX8, VW New Beetle, and lifted Jeep Wranger) so getting the 7 back on the
road is not super urgent. My wife and I will update this thread with pictures along
the way and I hope to be able to have everything we wanted done before Winter's over. I
spent 9 hours organizing tools/prepping the garage so I'm ready to get started!

Here's some pics:

The car as it is right now:


All interior pieces have been removed and are at Unique Auto upholstery/interiors in Scottsdale, AZ for some paint and upholstery work. We actually bought the carbon fiber overlays from Corksport and put a few on but were unhappy with the appearance so took them off. Taking them off put blemishes in the finish though, so we decided to just repaint everything.


Removed rear lights for round 96 spec conversion and to replace with custom LEDs. Opening up those with the heat gun was quite the trick (especially the long center light)!


Removing rear suspension for pillow-ball + bushing + shock/spring replacement


New shock/spring combo -- even matches the exterior white/black/red accent color scheme! Ended up having to get new bump stops too since the OEM rubber was falling apart.


Some of the black go fast goodies: BW S366, HKS SSQV limited edition matte black BOV, Turbosmart FPR, CJM fuel rail, and turbosmart manual boost controller. I want to keep boost control as simple as possible and want to avoid extra electronics, wires, and computers because I don't trust them. BTW, I'm a computer engineer.


Our Bride seats + one of red floor mats. Wasn't sure about the shiny silver FRP backside of these seats, but its actually pretty neat.


We're putting a 99'spec spoiler with Autoexe carbon center insert on and have some carbon fiber fender vents. We liked these
specific fender vents because they were exactly the same shape as the stock ones. Not a big fan of the ones that are bigger and bolder looking. Megan Racing manifold is in the background-- boy was that purchase a mistake and I have a horror story about dealing with the company I'll tell later.


Decided to sand/polish off the lettering on the stock lens in preparation for tinting. This bumped lettering always ended up catching wax from waxing and looking bad. The one on the right is sanded, the one on the left is original.